Behavioural Economics and Our Low Carbon Transition

Jim Gannon argued that Meeting Ireland’s 2020 and 2030 energy targets will require a mind shift in how we do business and how we live our lives.

Jim Gannon will argue that meeting Ireland’s 2020 and 2030 energy targets will require many different actions by many different actors. He will argue that this will require a mind shift in how we do business and how we live our lives. SEAI’s research has shown that by understanding and highlighting Non-Energy Benefits (NEBs) and using proven ‘nudging’ techniques, we can bring more people in and then along the journey towards reducing the carbon intensity of Ireland’s economy and society. Mr Gannon’s presentation will provide an overview of SEAI’s activities and will describe some of SEAI’s novel work in behavioural economics and how it is beginning to shape the design of SEAI’s programmes and to influence people to come on board not just to decarbonise but to improve their quality of life.

About the Speaker:

Jim Gannon is Chief Executive of SEAI, having joined the organisation in May 2016. He was formerly Director at RPS Group, leading the Energy, Environment and Health and Safety functions, with a core focus on the energy sector throughout his career. Mr Gannon is a Civil Engineering Graduate of NUI Galway, with a Masters in Environmental Assessment from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and an

MBA from the UCD Smurfit School of Business. He also serves as a member of the national Climate Change Advisory Council

About Us

The IIEA is Ireland’s leading European & International Affairs think tank. We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

Our role is to identify key European and international policy trends, which will inform the work of Ireland’s decision makers and business leaders, and enrich the public debate on Ireland’s role in the EU and on the global stage.